Morgan Thompson
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entothompson.bsky.social
Morgan Thompson
@entothompson.bsky.social
Incoming (January 2026): Assistant Professor in Chemical Ecology and Behavior of Insects, Department of Entomology, UC Riverside | Current: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland

mthomps15.wixsite.com/mthompson
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I am ecstatic to share that I will be joining the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside as an Assistant Professor in Chemical Ecology and Behavior of Insects in January 2026! Really looking forward to this next chapter and thankful for all of the support along the way!
Check out our latest publication on volatile-mediated interactions between plants and insect herbivores, pollinators, and natural enemies!! Here, we review the literature on volatile multifunctionality and propose new ideas for sustainable insect management.
Excited to share my latest publication with @entothompson.bsky.social and Emily Russvage. Here, we reviewed how plants leverage multifunctional volatiles to mediate plant-insect interactions simultaneously with multiple insect groups in agroecosystems. Check it out! 🌿🐛🐝🐞

doi.org/10.1093/ee/n...
Making “scents” of how plant volatiles influence agriculturally important insects: a review
Abstract. Plants emit hundreds, if not thousands, of different volatile chemical compounds, although the function of most individual volatiles remains elus
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Giving a seminar later this week at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire!! Looking forward to connecting with students and sharing my research!!
September 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Last week, I was invited to share my postdoctoral research at the @umdentomology.bsky.social Department Retreat. We are finding that neighboring tree diversity impacts leaf phenotypic expression and induces trade-offs against different consumers. More coming soon!!
September 6, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I am ecstatic to share that I will be joining the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside as an Assistant Professor in Chemical Ecology and Behavior of Insects in January 2026! Really looking forward to this next chapter and thankful for all of the support along the way!
August 20, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I had a great time sharing recent work at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD!! Always nice to meet new folks and reconnect with others!! @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social @umdentomology.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Check out our recent publication on plant defense strategies!! We found that plants favor tolerance against belowground root-feeders compared to aboveground insect herbivores and much more!! @tamu.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.ba...
Redirecting
doi.org
May 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
🚨📢 If you study insect behavior and plant volatiles, contribute to our special collection in Environmental Entomology, "Plant Volatiles in Insect Pest Management and Sustainable Agriculture" !! Due Aug 15; DM/email for details & please share!! @entsocamerica.bsky.social @oliviabernauer.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Reposted by Morgan Thompson
Please share! Do you work at the intersection of plant volatiles and insect management? 🌿🪲
Submit to our special issue in Enviro Ent: Plant Volatiles in Insect Pest Management and Sustainable Agriculture. MS drafts due Aug '25, anticipated pub. Feb '26; DM for details!
@entothompson.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Morgan Thompson
Morgan Thompson is Bug-ack at #UMD sharing findings from her doctoral research - how cucurbit plants handle herbivory. A postdoc now, she is excited to continue investigations into insect communities, branching out into a new study system - trees!🐛🌳https://go.umd.edu/1xvf
March 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I graduated!! Endless gratitude to my PhD advisor, Dr. Anjel Helms, who is an amazing scientist/mentor/friend/colleague. Very thankful for a great experience at @tamu.bsky.social in the Entomology Department. In January, I will start a postdoc with Dr. Karin Burghardt at @univofmaryland.bsky.social!
December 20, 2024 at 3:55 PM